Rustavi2
December 14, 2022

Further delays only increase the questions and concerns regarding his well-being – Kelly Degnan on Saakashvili’s process postponement

The US Ambassador to Georgia recently commented on the postponement of Mikheil Saakashvili’s court hearing.

“The United States, along with many others, is following very closely Mr. Saakashvili’s situation. The postponement today I think was a surprise. In the United States, when a judge orders steps to be taken, then everyone does their utmost to ensure that that court order is fulfilled.

“There’s a particular urgency because there is a such great concern both domestically and internationally regarding Mr. Saakashvili’s health and welfare. As we have said, ultimately it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that Mr. Saakashvili is receiving the mental and physical medical care that he needs. Further delays only increase the questions and concerns regarding his well-being,” said Kelly Degnan.

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Agenda.ge
December 14, 2022

Ruling party head says “politicised interference in justice” from MEPs “absolutely unacceptable”

IIrakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said attempts of “politicised interference” with Georgian justice were “unacceptable”, in his remarks on debates held on Monday in the European Parliament about latest developments around the health and sentence of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

In his remarks over the matter, Kobakhidze stressed respect for the rule of law was expected from “everyone”, adding the expectation was “one of the main components of European values”.

“As for the attempt to interfere with justice with political motives, it is absolutely unacceptable. We are members of the Parliament of Georgia and we try to refrain as much as possible from making statements on topics related to the prisoner in question – his imprisonment, release, and so on. We are trying to [avoid] this, despite the fact that we are members of the Parliament of Georgia”, the GD official said.

“It is absolutely unacceptable when MEPs try to carry out a politicised interference in justice….When we see MEPs who do not respect the elementary principle called the rule of law, it once again shows that there are serious problems in the European Parliament in terms of corruption. Corruption has many forms, it is not only about money”, he concluded.